ARAKAN

Monthly

News and Analysis of the Arakan Rohingya National Organisation, Arakan ( Burma)

ARNO PRESIDENT NURUL ISLAM

PROTEST INFRONT OF THE BUR-
MESE EMBASSY IN LONDON FOR
DAW AUNG SAN SUU KYI

Volume 1, Issue 5
MAY 2009
www.ro-
www.rohingya.org

Burma: A battleground for India and China

News and Analysis of the Arakan Rohingya National Organisation, Arakan ( Burma)
In this Issue
Editorial: Aung San Suu Kyi 2
Burma: A battleground for In-
dia and China 3
THE FINANCIAL EXPRESS: 2 mil-
lion Rohingyas facing push in
to Bangladesh 6
COMPOSITION OF THE ROHINGYA
7
SOCIETY IN ARAKAN her house. Such a trial could justify another exten-
Kaladan News: Human Rights
Group briefs press on Bangla-
10
desh FM’s visit to Burma recognition of human rights within the Burmese so-
Myanmar pledges to take back
Rohingyas 10
CNN exposé on Thai refugee
abuse wins award 11
Why SPDC sets up Natala villag-
es in northern Arakan 12
OIC/CFM-36/2009/MM/DR/RES/FINAL
RESOLUTION No. 4/36-MM ON THE
MUSLIM COMMUNITY IN MYANMAR
15
 ARAKAN VOLUME 1 ISSUE 4
Editorial: Aung San Suu Kyi
U
S President Barack Obama has called
for the “immediate and unconditional
“release of Burmese opposition lead-
er Aung San Suu kyi. In a written statement,
Mr.Obama said he strongly condemned Ms.Suu
Kyi, s house arrest, which has lasted for most
of last 19 years.”Aung San Suu Kyi,s continued
detention, isolation and show based on spurious
charges cast serious doubt on the Burmese re-
gime’s willingness to be a responsible member
of the international community” Mr.Obama said
in statement.
We strongly denounced the charges against Daw Aung
San Suu Kyi. She was accused of violating the law as
US national John Yettow swan to her lakeside house.
Suu Kyi did not invite him. The incident was merely
breach of security where the authorities watch over
sion of Suu Kyi,s yearlong detention, which officially
ended May 27. The junta has found reasons to extend
her periods of house arrest, which international ju-
rors say is illegal even under Burmese law.
Her perseverance is to achieve democracy and the
ciety. Only when “society fell from its original state
of purity into moral and chaos was a king elected to
restore peace and justice. She points out Burmese
traditions include the king among the “five enemies”.
The ten duties of the kings are: liberality, morality,
self-sacrifice, integrity, kindness, austerity, non-an-
ger, non-violence, forbearance and non-opposition to
the will of the people. The last duty empowered the
people to examine the king’s conducts. The king can-
not behave arbitrarily.
General Khin Nyunt once told “we love and respect
General Aung San and since Suu Kyi is his daughter,
we also have special attachment to her as the daugh-
ter of our national hero”. Maureen Aung Thwin, the
director of “Burma Project”in New York told that,”
She is now the single greatest threat to military rule.
And regardless of which groups are anti-SPDC and
claim to be separate from Suu kyi, the fact remains
that the government considers Suu Kyi to be the sym-
bol of opposition.”
Barbara victor wrote “The Burmese opposition de-
vised a method for reaching and informing millions
of people throughout the world the atrocities of SPDC
without firing a shot, hijacking an airplane, launch-
ing a grenade. Learning of a Burmese website on in-
ternet, million of people who had never even heard
of Burma suddenly became aware of Suu Kyi who

was relentless in her vocal opposi-
tion against a military regime with
a 400,000 men army, equipped with
the most modern and sophisticat-
ed weapons, that had been taken
over the country by force.”
In Dallas Morning News, April
2003, Rena Pederson wrote,” The
lady, as everyone calls her, may be
the bravest woman in the world.
After all, she had gone toe and
toe with a brutal military regime.
They have guns. She has only
ideas and principles. And she had
her own, even though the gener-
als have thrown her in jail, locked
her in her house and hounded her.
The first surprise was that she has
a sense of humour. As with Vaclav
Havel in Czechoslovakia and Nel-
son Mandela in South Africa, fate
has chosen Aung San Suu Kyi to be
the symbolic voice of an oppressed
people in her case, Burma.
Though they won Nobel Prize as
well, the difference is that they
are free today in democratic coun-
tries. She remains the only demo-
cratically elected leader in the
world who hasn’t been allowed to
take office. When Mr. Havel was
released from prison, he got to
assume elected office. Like wise
Mr. Mandela had a leader like. de
Klerk with whom to negotiate.” I
haven’t seen a de Klerk,” she ob-
served dryly in our interview.
Gen.Aung San, father of the Bur-
mese nation made a public speech
on July 15, 1947 calling the people
to get ready for Burma’s Indepen-
dent which was followed by a simi-
lar popular message by his only
daughter Aung San Suu kyi after
a gap of 41 years, one month and
thirteen days. When Aung San Suu
Kyi was delivering her speech a
vast crowed of one million people
assembled on the open ground to
the west of the Shwedagon Pagoda
in Rangoon. Many carried por-
traits of Gen.Aung San, who was
assassinated by an ex Burmese
premier before assuming power.
Aung San Suu kyi though elected,
she was barred by the Burmese
army generals to form government
but became opposition leader in
confinement.
Still she soldiers on refusing to
compromise on her principles of
nonviolence,- refusing even to
give up her sense of humour de-
spite a grim situation. The world’s
best known Burmese, of course,
is Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. Her,s
is today one of the only voices in
Burma that dares publicly chal-
lenge the military dictatorship.
She represents the desire of all of
Burma’s peoples, women and men
alike, for a government that would
respect their rights and strive to
meet needs.
Burma: A battle-
ground for India
and China
By Aman Ullah
G
reat Game of the 19th
Century was played be-
tween empire builders
Britain and Russia, using Af-
ghanistan as their football in
seeking control of central Asia.
Today, there is a new great
game under way between two
very different competitors --
China and India. But this time
the ball is Burma.
In much the same way that Afghan-
istan was a poor and undeveloped
but strategic piece of territory, so
Burma now fits that role for the
two burgeoning economic giants.
The coastline of Burma provides
naval access in the proximity of
one of the world’s most strategic
water passages, the Strait of Ma-
lacca, the narrow ship passage be-
tween Malaysia and Indonesia.
The Strait of Malacca, linking the
Indian and Pacific Oceans, is the
shortest sea route between the
Persian Gulf and China. It is the
key chokepoint in Asia. More than
80% of all China’s oil imports are
shipped by tankers passing the Ma-
www.rohingya.org
lacca Strait. The narrowest point is
the Phillips Channel in the Singa-
pore Strait, only 1.5 miles wide at
its narrowest. Daily more than 12
million barrels in oil supertankers
pass through this narrow passage,
most en route to the world’s fast-
est-growing energy market, China
or to Japan.
If the strait were closed, nearly
half of the world’s tanker fleet
would be required to sail further.
Closure would immediately raise
freight rates worldwide. More than
50,000 vessels per year transit the
Strait of Malacca. The region from
Burma to Banda Ache in Indonesia
is fast becoming one of the world’s
most strategic chokepoints.
Controlling the strategic sea lanes
from the Persian Gulf to the South
China Sea, the United States has
been trying to militarize the re-
gion since September 11, 2001 on
the argument of defending against
possible terrorist attack. The US
has managed to gain an airbase on
Banda Ache, the Sultan Iskandar
Muda Air Force Base, on the north-
ernmost tip of Indonesia. The gov-
ernments of the region, including
Burma, however, have adamantly
refused US efforts to militarize
the region.
Since it became clear to China
that the US was hell-bent on a uni-
lateral militarization of the Mid-
dle East oil fields in 2003, Beijing
has stepped up its engagement in
Burma. China is officially Burma’s
third-largest trading partner after
Singapore and Thailand and the
largest foreign investor in Burma,
though the size of this investment
is not recorded and not visible in
international statistics.
China is also Burma’s most impor-
tant defense ally, supplying most of
its military hardware and training.
In recent years Beijing has poured
billions of dollars in military as-
sistance into Burma, including
fighter, ground-attack and trans-
port aircraft; tanks and armored
personnel carriers; naval vessels
and surface-to-air missiles. This
has made the Burmese military
- the second largest in Southeast
Asia after Vietnam - much more
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technically sophisticated. It has Akyab, providing the shortest route to the Indian Ocean from southern
enabled the army to expand from China. It has also built an 85-metre jetty, naval facilities and major re-
180,000 men to more than 450,000 connaissance and electronic intelligence systems on the Great Coco Is-
today. land, located 18 kilometers from India’s Andaman and Nicobar Islands,
In 1992, China and Burma agreed giving China capabilities to monitor India’s military activities, includ-
that China would modernize Bur- ing missile tests. Access to Burma’s ports and naval installations pro-
mese naval facilities, in return for vide China with strategic influence in the Bay of Bengal, in the wider
permitting the Chinese navy to use Indian Ocean region and in Southeast Asia.
the Small and Great Coco Island. In fact Burma is an integral part of what China terms its “string of
Since then, Chinese experts have pearls,” its strategic design of establishing military bases in Burma,
built an electronic intelligence Thailand and Cambodia in order to counter US control over the Strait
station on Great of Malacca chokepoint.
Coco Island, vast- There is also energy on
ly improved and and offshore of Burma,
militarized the and lots of it.
Burmese port fa- As a result of increased
cilities in the Bay Chinese influence in
of Bengal at Akyab Burma, as well as arms-
(Sittwe), Kyauk- trafficking occurring
pyu and Mergui, along the Indo-Bur-
and constructed mese border, India has
a major naval sought in recent years to
base on Hainggyi strengthen its ties with
Island near the Burma. India’s interest
Irrawaddy river in Burma is largely mo-
delta. tivated by the country’s
China is currently importance to its main
building a deep- economic and political
sea port in Kyauk- rival, China. India is
pyu, which is lo- afraid of China’s influ-
cated on the route ence in Burma.
connecting south- India’s interest in
western China’s and involvement with
Kunming city with Southeast Asia has
Burma’s Sittwe, in been growing steadily
Arakan. The port over the past decade.
has a water depth New Delhi would like
of 20 metres and to use the country as a
is capable of ac- trade link to the fast-
commodating growing ASEAN region.
4,000 TEU (20-foot In 2004, an agreement
equivalent units) was signed in Yangon by
container vessels. the foreign ministers of
A feasibility study India, Burma and Thai-
for the seaport land to develop trans-
and road construction, outlined port linkages between the three countries. This included a 1,400 km
as Kunming-Mandalay-Kyaukpyu- highway connecting northeastern India with Mandalay and Yangon, and
Sittwe, was made in 2005. Once the on to Bangkok, which would contribute to opening up trade between the
1,943 km Kunming-Kyuakpu road countries and give India access to Burmese ports. India is also spending
is completed, it is expected to fa- $100 million to fund a deal linking Burma’s Sittwe port with an Indian
cilitate transit trade and provide one, perhaps Calcutta. A planned deep-sea port in Dawei, together with
job opportunities for Burmese a new highway connecting it to Kanchanaburi in Thailand, would no
workers and others in the region. doubt contribute further to commercial links.
China assists in constructing a na- Dawei, the capital of Tanintharyi division, is on the long, narrow coastal
val base in Sittwe (Akyab), a stra- plain of southern Burma. Building Dawei port also has a direct security
tegically important sea port close angle for the Indian navy, which is now in the process of sorting out the
to eastern India’s largest city and technical and financial details of its ambitious Far Eastern Naval Com-
port, Kolkata. It also funds road mand (FENC) project at Port Blair, the capital of the Andaman Islands.
construction linking Rangoon and FENC is intended to extend the Indian navy’s nuclear/strategic combat

 ARAKAN VOLUME 1 ISSUE 4


capability. Dawei is located across
the Andaman Sea on the Burmese
coast, almost facing FENC. Indian
analysts worry that the Chinese
base on Great Coco Island poses
a threat to the Indian tri-services
command in Port Blair, which is
only about 190 nautical miles (300
km) away. The Coco Island base
lies only 22 nautical miles from
Landfall Island, the northernmost
of the Andamans. The Coco Island
facility is also seen as a significant
ELINT (electronic intelligence)
and SIGINT (signal intelligence)
threat to India’s missile-testing
range, Chandipur-on-Sea and the
Sriharikota Island Launching
Range, which are designed to as-
semble, test and launch Indian
multi-stage rockets.
According to Indian security ana-
lysts, the Chinese presence on
Coco Island should be seen in con-
nection with the Sino-Pakistani
defense project and cooperation
on the Gwadar Port facilities,
which give China access and bas-
ing facilities on the other side of
the Indian subcontinent, near the
Strait of Hormuz. What is espe-
cially worrisome from the Indian
perspective is the ‘maritime encir-
clement of India’, with the Chinese
based at Gwadar to the west of In-
dia and on Coco Island to the east.
In addition, Burma’s experiments
with a nuclear research reactor
are worrisome from an Indian per-
spective, especially since China,
Pakistan and Russia have all been
involved. Indian analysts fear that
China’s naval presence in Burma
may allow it to interdict regional
sea lanes of communication. On
this account, Burma is emerging as
the ‘single largest threat to Indian
strategic interests in South East
Asia’. In an effort to check this
state of affairs, India has started
its own campaign to woo the Bur-
mese regime by providing military
training and selling it arms and
military hardware.
Offshore natural gas has become
the major source of income for the
Burmese military regime, and will
become increasingly important in
the years to come. India and China
have both engaged in acquiring
Burmese oil benefits.
In 2004, Burma exported natural
gas to Thailand for nearly US$1
billion, which is claimed to be
at least twice as much as Burma
could have earned from trade with
the USA and the EU if they had not
applied sanctions. The oil and gas
sector continued to grow in 2005,
owing to Chinese, Thai, South
Korean and Indian investments.
Thailand’s imports from Burma,
mainly consisting of gas from
Yadana and Yetagun, rose by more
than 50% that year. Gas is now by
far the most important source of
income for Burma, and one-third
of foreign direct investment (FDI)
in Burma is in the oil and gas sec-
tor. The combined FDI in Burmese
oil and gas since 1988 is approxi-
mately US$2.5 billion, 33% of all
of Burma’s FDI. From the newly
discovered Shwe field alone, the
Korean Daewoo International has
predicted at least US$86 million
in net profit annually for 20 years
from 2010, while Burma is project-
ed to earn a minimum of US$800
million a year, and potentially up
to US$3 billion.
In 2004 a large new gas field, Shwe
field, off the coast of Arakan was
discovered by Daewoo Interna-
tional. There are preliminary
plans to explore for gas in sev-
eral blocks in the Bay of Bengal,
but so far test drilling has only
been made in Shwe’s blocks A-1
and A-3. The A-1 block is the larg-
est, estimated to contain between
2.88 trillion and 3.56 trillion cubic
feet of natural gas. Partners in the
project’s international consor-
tium are Daewoo (60%), the state-
owned Korean Gas Corporation
(10%), and India’s ONGC (20%) and
GAIL (10%). Production from the
Shwe field is planned to start in
2009. Natural gas from Shwe has
become a contentious issue in re-
lations between India and China,
and an obstacle to Sino-Indian en-
ergy cooperation.
In December 2005, Burma signed
a Memorandum of Understanding
with Petro-China to supply large
volumes of natural gas from re-
www.rohingya.org
serves of the Shwe gasfield in the
Bay of Bengal. The contract runs
for 30 years. India was the main
loser. Burma had earlier given In-
dia a major stake in two offshore
blocks to develop gas to have been
transmitted via pipeline through
Bangladesh to India’s energy-hun-
gry economy. Political bickering
between India and Bangladesh
brought the Indian plans to a
standstill.
Burma exemplifies the difficult
balance between competition and
cooperation between China and
India over oil and gas resources in
third countries. India and China’s
proximity to Burma provides an
opportunity for both countries to
enhance their energy security by
diversifying fuel-supply sources
while avoiding the need for ex-
pensive LNG (liquid natural gas)
transportation. For China, Burma
also represents a possible over-
land supply route for oil and other
commodities bypassing the Ma-
lacca Strait, a sea-lane that is vul-
nerable in the event of an attack
or embargo. Access to Burmese
ports and overland transporta-
tion routes through Burma is seen
as a vital security asset for China.
This has become increasingly im-
portant with the growing Chinese
dependence on imported oil, 80%
of which is shipped into China
via the Malacca Strait. A key Chi-
nese objective is thus to import oil
through Burma. According to a re-
cent report, plans for an oil pipe-
line linking Burma’s deep-water
port of Kyaukpyu with Kunming
in China’s Yunnan province were
approved by the National Devel-
opment and Reform Commission
(a department of the Chinese State
Council) in early April 2006.
China took advantage of the stale-
mate. China simply trumped India
with an offer to invest billions in
building a strategic China-Burma
oil and gas pipeline across Burma
from Burma’s deepwater port at
Kyaukpyu in the Bay of Bengal to
Kunming in China’s Yunnan Prov-
ince, a stretch of more than 2,300
kilometers. China plans an oil re-
finery in Kumming as well.
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What the Burma-China pipelines
will allow is routing of oil and gas
from Africa (Sudan among oth-
er sources) and the Middle East
(Iran, Saudi Arabia) independent
of dependence on the vulnerable
chokepoint of the Malacca Strait.
Burma becomes China’s “bridge”
linking Bangladesh and countries
westward to the China mainland
independent of any possible fu-
ture moves by Washington to con-
trol the strait.
From a perceived China fear and
with an objective to compete with
China, India has been building
up its military strength. India has
worked to close the gap with Chi-
na by spending heavily on modern
arms. And under the threat per-
ception, India has been pursuing
the closer relations with the Unit-
ed States, something that worries
China.
Themistocles, a Greek writer, once
said that, “he who commands the
sea has command of everything.”
It was Alfred T. Manhan, an Amer-
ican naval strategist who said in
1911: “Whoever controls the In-
dian Ocean dominates Asia…. in
the 21st century the destiny of the
world will be decided on its waves.”
Both China and India’s growing
military ambitions and maritime
power building up in seeking the
control of Indian Ocean have the
potential to destabilize the region.
Of all the Southeast Asian states,
Burma occupies the most sensitive
position between India and China,
giving rise to routine descriptions
of a ‘Sino-India rivalry’ over the
country.
THE FINANCIAL EX-
PRESS: 2 million
Rohingyas facing
push in to Bangla-
desh
Enayet Rasul Bhuiyan
Mass forced expulsion of Rohing-
yas from Arakan is feared
 ARAKAN VOLUME 1 ISSUE 4
M
ore serious is the issue
of the Rohingyas. The
Rohingyas are Muslims
who inhabit the Arakan region
facing Bangladesh. For their
looking like Bangladeshis or
ethnicity and their religion ,
they have been always under
harassment by the predominant
Burmese people of Myanmar
who mainly run that country
and form its elites especially
among the ruling armed forc-
es.
The Rohingyas have been always
persecuted in their homeland for
their distinctiveness. In 1991, fol-
lowing some incidents, the Bur-
mese border security forces and
the army drove out over 250,000
Rohingyas from Arakan and they
had to be sheltered by Bangladesh
since that time. After some years,
talks between the two countries
led to the return of a large number
of the Rohingyas. But many still
remain as the repatriation pro-
gramme was suspended in 2007.
Instead of resuming it, Myanmar
authorities seem to be planning to
push in afresh on a large scale the
Rohingyas into Bangladesh. Press
reports quoting different sources
indicate that there is the possibil-
ity that the Myanmar authorities
are plotting to start fresh troubles
to create the ground for pushing
into Bangladesh some 2 million
Rohingyas. In other words, they
have plans to push out their entire
Rohingya population from Arakan
into neighbouring Bangladesh.
Thus, Bangladesh government
should be extremely wary from now
on to watch these developments
to be able to frustrate and defeat
them. The Bangladesh-Myanmar
borders could soon turn out to be
a hotbed of serious troubles. For
precluding such an outcome, Ban-
gladesh needs to much increase
its vigil in the Bangladesh-Myan-
mar borders and deploy security
forces in adequate number. More
important would be launching im-
mediate wide ranging diplomatic
activities to be able to prevail on
Myanmar authorities to see rea-
son and be restrained from push-
ing Rohingyas into Bangladesh.
Among Myanmar’s neighbors, Chi-
na has the greatest influence on
that country. Therefore, it should
be the lookout of Bangladesh to
use their Chinese friends to put
pressure on Myanmar to hold back
from their various adventuristic
designs against Bangladesh in-
cluding the pushing in of the Ro-
hingyas. In sum, Bangladesh has
 www.rohingya.org
no choice but to be proactive in relation to Myanmar to be able to offset another large scale pouring in of
Rohingya refuges from across the borders into its territories.

The number of Rohingyas who

have remained in Bangladesh
for the last two decades, have
created seri- ous problems
for this coun- try. They have to
be sheltered, fed, clothed and
taken care of in different ways
mainly by Ban- gladesh notwith-
standing that foreign aid or
UN assistance also came for
their upkeep. But the main re-
sponsibility for the looking after
of the refugees from Myanmar
has been one of Bangladesh and
its government. For a long time
and before the repatriation of
these refugees started, Bangla-
desh authori- ties were found
too stressed in caring for these
uprooted peo- ple. Another big
wave of Rohing- yas coming from
across the borders would mean resurrection of huge problems which seemed about to end.

Media reports from various sources indicate that a mass forced migration of the Rohingyas into Bangladesh
would be imminent. Already, some thousands of Rohingyas have crossed over into Bangladesh territories dur-
ing the last couple of weeks. From what they had to say, the authorities here could form an impression that
the Myanmar military and para military are once again letting loose a rein of terror on these helpless people
so that they get frightened and tortured enough into fleeing their homes leaving their everything behind. So,
it is more than high time for Bangladesh government, to wake up from its slumber or to shake off its low key
response and to counteract the growing problem while it remains controllable or reasonable. Any delay in
this matter could mean a situation where it would have to face up to a sudden flood of refugees which would
be much more difficult to control or even try such a thing in view of its purely humanitarian aspects.

Bangladesh government needs to contact Myanmar authorities at the highest level and persuade them to call
off the terrorizing of the Rohingyas immediately. Only from an easing of conditions for them--locally-- the
Rohingyas are likely to get back their confidence and the motivation to stay in their home country. The most
effective way to deter this push in of Rohingyas in great number would be contacting countries such as China
which have most leverages on Myanmar and the UN with the aim of using their influence to stop the repres-
sion of the Rohingya population.

COMPOSITION OF THE ROHINGYA SOCIETY IN ARAKAN

By AFK Jilani

D
r. Than Tun the Rector of Mandalay University and former professor of History, Rangoon
University wrote that, “The kings of Arakan had Muslim titles. The Muslim kings mentioned
in the inscription might be Rohingya, from the Mayu River , the eastern part of the NAF
River , who claimed over thousand years of their existence. Their existence might be from the time
of 1202 CE when the Muslim conquered Bengal that is 800 years ago. In the Kyaukza or stone in-
scription of 1442, it was written that some Muslim kings of Arakan were the friends of king of Ava.
They used to visit Ava .Narameikhla had paid visit to King of Ava.

Islam came to Southeast Asia borne on the seas by Sufis and merchants rather than overland by soldiers
brandishing swords. Conversion was by choice, not coercion. This peaceful and gradual Islamisation has

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moulded the Southeast Asian Mus- sent to Arakan proper and settled the British naval force in the Bay
lims, psyche into one, which is cos- in villages.” of Bengal . The capture and en-
mopolitan, open-minded, tolerant slavement of prisoners was one of
and amenable to cultural diver- The Arab merchants and mystics the most lucrative types of plun-
sity. carried out missionary activities der. Half the prisoners taken by
among the locals. The superior the Portuguese and all the arti-
During the same period, Ara- moral character and high mission- sans among them were given to the
kanese chronicles states that Mus- ary zeal of these devout followers king of Arakan. The rest were sold
lim Faqirs and Sufis(saints)used attracted large number of people on the market or forced to settle
to visit the Arakan coast. One of towards Islam who embraced it in the villages near Mrohaung. A
the widely known facts is the ex- enmasse. Many of the early Arabs considerable number of these cap-
istence of Muslim shrines called married locals, women and settled tives were Muslims. In addition to
Bader Mokam which are essen- in towns and villages permanently. the Muslim prisoners and slaves
tially the commemorative shrines The Arabs and Persians such as brought to Arakan from Bengal and
originally erected even from North India
by the followers , many more came to
of Pir Badarud- serve as mercenar-
din Badri-i-Alam ies in the Arakanese
popularly known army, usually as the
as pir Badar king’s body guard.
scattered along
the coastline of Two maps in the
Arakan.The leg- “Times Atlas of the
endary Hanifa World History” edited
Tonki and Khaya- in 1979 by Geoffrey
futi Tonki in Mayu Burraclough clearly
mountain, the indicated Arakan as a
Shriness of Baba- Muslim country. Ara-
ji Shah Monayam kan had turned into
of Ambari and Sultanate and Islam
Pir Badar Shah had flourished to it
at Akyab all bear zenith. Persian was
evidence of the adopted as a state lan-
arrival of mystic guage, which contin-
saints as early as ued up to 1845. One of
the 7th Century. the preconditions for
Mrauk-U kings before
There were or- their ascension to the
ders in Persian in throne of Arakan was
the Deputy Com- that they were to be
missioner’s court graduated in Islamic
at Akyab dated studies. Coins, medal-
1834 and also from lions and state em-
T.Dickerson Esq. Commissioner of Sulayman (AD851) Hudud Al Alam blems were inscribed with’Kalima’
Arakan, to the effect that one Hus- (AD 982) and many others used (the profession of faith in Islam)
sain Ally, the then Thugyi of Bu- routes over Arakan Yoma to travel and “Aqimuddin” (establishment
damaw circle, was to have charge to Burma and then to china. They of God’s rule over the earth) in Ar-
of the Buddermokam and to enjoy wrote about the relation between abic script.
any sums that he might collect on Burma and China and internal
account of alms and offerings. ethnic groups, relations. The Arab According to the author of the
were said to be in control of the “Time Atlas of World History”
“About 788 A.D Mahataing Sandya foreign trade of Arakan until re- Muslim rule in Arakan had already
ascended the throne, founded a cent centuries. been established before Naramei-
new city (Vesali) on the side of old kla fled to Bengal . Muslim kings
Ramawadi and died after a reign Joint Magh/Portuguese raids on of Arakan used to visit to Ava as
of twenty two years. In his reign Bengal continued until the end of was written in the Kyaukza (stone
several ships were wrecked off the eighteenth century and ceased plates) inscription of 1442, as state
Ramree island and the crews said entirely with the strengthening of
to have been Muhamadens, were

 ARAKAN VOLUME 1 ISSUE 4

 www.rohingya.org

guest of kings of Ava.

One of the coins of Sultan Ali Shah(Thatasa-1525 CE) found at Mrauk-U, inscribed in Persian, in the obverse
side, read as follows:-

“There is no God but Allah, Mohammad the Messenger of Allah. May Allah perpetuate his kingdom” On the
reverse side, also inscribed in Persian, it reads as “Sultan Ali Shah, father of the victorious May Allah per-
petuate his kingdom.”

The eleven kings, who ruled Arakan for one hundred years (1430-1530) from Sultan Sulayman Shah to Sultan
Ali Shah, were feudatory to Bengal . From the time of Min Bin (Zabuk Shah 1531-1553) Arakan was no more
feudatory to Bengal . The south-eastern of Bengal, Chittagong , came under the sway of Zabuk shah around
1540. Even after becoming independent from Bengal Sultans. Arakanese kings had continued the custom of
using Muslim titles, inscribing Kalama in coins, using Persian as state language and graduating in Islamic
studies.

One of the most glorious periods of Bangali literature was the seventeenth century. It was indeed a golden
age. The romantic Bengali literature free from unnecessary divine or religious sentiments began in the
hands of the Muslims poets at the court of Arakan. Their poems in the seventeenth century have left clear
records of the reigning monarchs of Arakan.

Daulat Qazi wrote his Sati Mayna O Lor Chandrani at the request of Ashraf Khan, the Chief Minister of Salim
Shah II (Thiri Thudama) 1622-1638. This great work of Daulat begins with a graphic picture of the capital
of Arakan of the king and his chief minister and of the people of the country in general. The chief minister
was Ashraf Khan and in whose able hands the reins of monarchy were entrusted for the major period of the
king’s reign.In this context Daulat writes “the great king (Thiri Thudama or Salim Shah II) knowing that his
life would come to an end, transferred the rule of the kingdom to the hands of his minister Ashraf Khan”.

According to history, the coronation of Salim Shah II was deferred for twelve years, in pursuance of an
astrological prediction that the king would die within a year of his coronation. Alawal mentioned that the
kingdom of Arakan was entrusted to the joint rule of the son and the daughter of the Thado Mintra, after his
death. The daughter and the Chief Minister, Magan Thakur, had very important roles in the administration
of the state. Another minister Sulayman of the king Sanda Thudama also figures very prominently in one of
the Alawal’s works. Alawal’s qualities soon attracted the Chief

Minister of Arakan Magan Siddiqi (Thakur).Magan himself was a scholar and a poet. Under his patronage,
Alawal wrote, “Padmavati” a famous Hindu romantic epic by Malik Mohammad Jaisi, in Bengali. Alawal
turned the mystic idea and supernatural ornamentation of Jaisi into human life and activities. His next
work was “Saiful Mulk Badiuzzamal” based on “Arabian Nights”. This was followed by “Haft Paikar(seven
portraits)” based on the Persian poet Nizam Panjabi’s work of the same name.

Poet Marden stated his birthplace to be Kanchipuri in Arakan where there lived a number of Ulamas and
Sheikhs. He wrote an epic entitled ‘Nasib Nama’. Another Muslim Poet was Abdul Karim Khondakar. He said
He said his great grandfather Rasul Mia was a custom officer of Arakan Port. Speaking about a village named

APRIL 
News and Analysis of the Arakan Rohingya National Organisation, Arakan ( Burma)
Bandar in ROSHANG (ARAKAN)
Abdul Karim says,”There lived in
that village Qazis, Muftis, Ulema,
Pir and Sufis. Those high-raking
Muslims used to converse with the
kings on equal and friendly terms.
Whenever a poor man happened
to visit the village, he was never
returned empty handed.
For saying prayers a mosque was
built there Sadiq Nana Atiabar(
the patron of Abdul Karim). For
this act he became well known in
the society. There gathered a good
number of Ulemas in the village
who supervised the regular saying
of prayers. One of them was ap-
pointed as khatib, while another
was appointed Imam”.
Kaladan News: Hu-
man Rights Group
briefs press on
Bangladesh FM’s
visit to Burma
May 18, 2009
C
hittagong, Bangladesh:
The Neeti Gobeshona
Kendro, the Research
Organization for Human Rights
and Good Governance, held a
press conference on May 16,
2009, at the Chittagong Press
Club to discuss the Rohingya
issue with representatives of
the Burmese government and
demanded a solution for the
same, according to our corre-
spondent.
Mahbubul Huq Ripon, Direc-
tor and Founder Trustee of Neeti
Gobeshona Kendro was the main
key note speaker at the Chittagong
Press Club.
During the press conference, the
Director of Neeti Gobeshona Ken-
dro said that the Rohingyas have
been living in Arakan State for
hundreds of years now, so they are
citizens of Arakan State, accord-
ing to their historical back ground.
However, they have been subject-
10 ARAKAN VOLUME 1 ISSUE 4
ed to ethnic discrimination by the Government of Burma for their cul-
ture, religion and language. Therefore, they have been taking shelter in
neighbouring Bangladesh to avoid persecution, just like Bangladeshis
took shelter in India, during the liberation war of 1971.
After the liberation of Bangladesh, there were two phases of Rohingya
Refugee exodus to Bangladesh. Although Burma has been accepting
some refugees from Bangladesh, yet the country’s reluctance to accept
all the refugees has been obvious. So, international pressure is required
to be put on Burma.
The Neeti Gobeshona Kendro believes that the Bangladesh Foreign
Minister will raise the Rohingya issue with the Burmese authorities,
while having discussions with them. It was not enough that the Rohing-
ya issue was raised at the sidelines of the “Bali Process”, which was
held in April, in which 42 countries participated.
Arakan is an important place as it lies between South Asia and South-
east Asia and has natural resources. So, it is very important for Burma
and Bangladesh, if either country monopolizes the situation after creat-
ing problems in Arakan, it would create trouble, Professor Mahbubul
Huq Ripon, added.
Bangladesh is a small and poor country with a huge population. As a
result, it is very difficult to give shelter and support to the Rohingya
refugees continuously. So, it is desirable to give support to the refugees
from donor countries, including United Nations High Commissioner for
Refugees (UNHCR).
The Rohingya problem does not only concern Bangladesh and Burma
but also concerns South Asia and Southeast Asia. Some of the Rohingyas
were arrested, tortured and died in Southeast Asian countries. Burma
did not receive the Rohingya migrants. Hence, the participation of all
countries is needed to solve the problem.
In Burma, all the minority groups have been persecuted by the Bur-
mese military junta, of them; the Rohingya community is the one which
suffers the most. The SPDC authority changed Arakan State to Rakh-
ine State, and always creates problems between Rohingya and Rakh-
ine communities. They (SPDC) also encourages the Rakhine community
to create trouble so that the Rohingya community leaves from Arakan
State. The Rakhine community works towards this because they will get
an empty Arakan State for their advantage. Nearly all are Burmans in
ruling posts. It has been established that during the Saffron Revolution,
the Rakhine monks were tortured and killed by the military junta.
According to the report of the World Human Rights Organizations, there
is no religious freedom and no human rights for people living in Arakan
State. Besides, Model (Natala) villages have been set up in Arakan State
inviting Burmans from Burma proper. Burma’s authority adopted a citi-
zenship law against the Rohingya community in 1982, to deprive the
Rohingya community from citizenship. Rohingyas have been fleeing to
Bangladesh since 1970, to take shelter in Bangladesh, to avoid persecu-
tion by the SPDC authorities, the Director added
Myanmar pledges to take back Rohing-
yas
Fri, May 29th, 2009
D
haka, May 29 (bdnews24.com)—Foreign minister Dipu
Moni has said the Myanmar leaders during her latest trip
to that country told her that they would take the Rohingya
refugees back.

She told reporters at the foreign
ministry on Friday that Myanmar
authorities in December last year
said Rohingyas were not Myanmar
citizens but Bangladeshis. “At a
meeting on trafficking in persons
in Bali, I presented historical data
and necessary evidence on Ro-
hingyas’ Myanmarese identity.
“During my Myanmar visit (May
16-17), its leaders admitted that
they are Myanmarese and agreed
to take them back,” the foreign
minister.
She said Myanmar government
sought a list from Dhaka on the
number of Rohingyas living in
Bangladesh as part of the repatri-
ation process.
She observed that the influx of
Rohingya refugees from Myanmar
was not a new development, rather
the Arakan people were continu-
ously intruding into Bangladesh
for long. Her rather candid com-
ments came as Bangladesh media
reported massive intrusion of Ro-
hingya refugees in Cox’s Bazar and
Bandarban districts.
Dipu Moni said the refugee flow
would not stop unless Myanmar
authorities guaranteed “qualita-
tive change” in its Arakan state—
Rohingyas’ motherland.
“Rohigya influx is always there.
They have been coming continu-
ously.
“A small number of them are in the
(UNHCR) camp. Huge numbers of
them are outside the camp,” Dipu
Moni told reporters at foreign min-
istry on Friday.
“If there was no qualitative change
in the place they come from, the
influx would be continuing even
though we send them back or
Myanmar shows interest in taking
them back,” she said.
Foreign secretary Md Touhid
Hossain said, “So far, there is no
change in the environment they
live in.” The foreign secretary
made it clear that Dhaka would
not accept any foreign national as
its citizen.
Around 30,000 residual Rohigya
refugees, Myanmar Muslims from
the northern Rakhain state, have
been living in camps in Cox’s Ba-
zar district as they are unwilling to
return to Myanmar.
Hundreds of thousands of Rohing-
yas fled into Bangladesh as the
military junta in the former Burma
cracked down on them to avert the
international focus on its domestic
affairs including power handover
to democratically elected leader
Aung San Suu Kyi.
Muslim Rohingyas are the minor-
ity in the Buddhist Myanmar.
As per a tripartite agreement with
the UNHCR, most of the Rohing-
yas returned to their homeland,
but they later intruded for better
life in Bangladesh.
The military leadership, following
a mass upsurge in 1988, gave na-
tional election in which Suu Kyi’s
National League for Democracy
had landslide victory.
But the ruling generals refused to
hand over power and put her in
jail and finally on trial.
CNN exposé on Thai
refugee abuse
wins award
L
ONDON, England (CNN)
-- A CNN documentary
that sparked worldwide
condemnation of Thailand’s al-
leged practice of pushing Myan-
mar’s Rohingya boat people
out to sea has won an Amnesty
International Media Award.
The winning half-hour documen-
tary, presented by CNN’s Bang-
kok-based correspondent Dan
www.rohingya.org
Rivers, highlighted the on-going
persecution of the ethnic Rohing-
ya people in their bid to escape
terrible persecution and privation
in Myanmar, formerly Burma, and
in neighboring countries.
Jurors at Tuesday’s award ceremo-
ny in London singled out CNN’s
entry for particular praise for put-
ting the issue high on the agenda
at an ensuing Southeast Asian
summit meeting.
They said they were impressed by
a brilliant investigation that broke
new ground and secured a person-
al commitment to intervene from
the Thai prime minister.
CNN International executive vice
president and managing director
Tony Maddox said: “This award
is a tremendous reflection on the
quality and depth of CNN’s re-
porting, the tenacity, bravery and
resourcefulness of our correspon-
dent Dan Rivers and an endorse-
ment of the network’s strategy to
own and create more content.
“It is a testament to CNN’s Lon-
don-based managing editor Debo-
rah Rayner and the World’s Untold
Stories team in Atlanta that only
the third edition of the documen-
tary series, produced by CNN In-
ternational, has won such a presti-
gious award so soon,” he added.
The allegations of mistreatment of
the Rohingya in the neighboring
country of Thailand -- at the hands
of the military -- prompted a gov-
ernment inquiry.
Thai PM Abhisit Vejjajiva later
told CNN in an exclusive interview
with Rivers that he would bring
those responsible to account.
The haunting pictures of Thai
soldiers towing boatloads of Ro-
hingya and cutting them adrift
on the high seas -- first broadcast
on CNN’s World’s Untold Stories
-- are one of the iconic images of
2009 and are credited with bring-
ing the practice to worldwide at-
tention.
“This story underscores all the
reasons why I became a journal-
ist,” said Rivers. “It’s about getting
APRIL 11
News and Analysis of the Arakan Rohingya National Organisation, Arakan ( Burma)
the facts and using those facts to engage an audience
and make a difference.”
Amnesty International UK Director Kate Allen, paid
tribute to the winners for bringing human rights abus-
es to the world’s attention. She said: “In the midst
of the world financial crisis it is more important
than ever to celebrate the achievements of journal-
ists whose outstanding reporting has helped throw a
clear light upon human rights abuses.
“Not only is the crisis itself having an impact upon
people’s human rights, there is also a real threat to
investigative journalism as media outlets cut costs
and reduce staff.”
Why SPDC sets up Natala vil-
lages in northern Arakan
By Fayas Kapani
T
he State Peace and Development Coun-
cil’s (SPDC‘s) setting up Natala village or
model village in northern Arakan calling
in Burmans from Burma proper and Rakhines
from inside and outside Arakan State has re-
sulted in the confiscation of lands and extract-
ing forced labor from the Rohingya community.
Before 1992, some model villages were built in Ara-
kan State, mainly in Maungdaw, Buthidaung and
Rathedaung Townships. Building of model villages
reportedly intensified after the formation of Nasaka
(Burma’s border security force) in 1992.
The setting up of Natala villages in northern Arakan
is under the supervision of the Ministry for Devel-
opment of Border Areas and National Races, better
known under its Burma’s acronym “Natala.” Hence,
model villages are locally known as Natala villages.
A Central Committee for the Development of Border
Areas and National Races was formed in May 1989,
soon after the military government in September
1992. This Committee was upgraded to Ministry for
Progress of Border Areas and National Races and
Development Affairs.
Northern Arakan is a place of few arable farmlands
and is mostly mountainous region. It is also a place
for many Rohingyas transferred from southern Ara-
kan State after riots broke out between Rakhine and
Rohingya communities in 1942.
In 1968, people were in great trouble as a fierce
storm lashed in Kyaukpru and Sittwe (Akyab) dis-
tricts. Meanwhile, Rohingyas were arrested illegal-
ly or picked up from Mrauk U, Mray Bon, Min Bya,
Pauktaw townships by the army and brought to Buthi-
daung township by boats and forcibly dropped there.
Later, they were sent to Maungdaw and scattered in
Buthidaung and Rathedaung townships and stayed
there without any support from the government. This
was a kind of uprooting of the Rohingya community
12 ARAKAN VOLUME 1 ISSUE 4
from the southern side of Arakan State. This is one of
the reasons, why northern Arakan is densely popu-
lated.
The present ruling junta successfully emptied Ro-
hingyas from some of the towns in southern Arakan
by driving them to the north of Arakan. The aim of the
ruling junta was to reduce the Rohingya population
where Rohingya people are in the majority by setting
up model villages.
At first, the SPDC authorities took the initiative to
bring the majority of the population of model vil-
lages from among poor Rakhine people from other
parts of Arakan State and some local ethnic minori-
ties such as Kame, Dainget, Mro and Thet who lived
in the highlands. Later, the authorities brought poor
Burmans from central Burma, mostly retired civil
servants, former prisoners, and street people. The
people were not willing to come to Arakan, but they
were forcibly brought. They were even shackled by
the legs while they were brought to Arakan by ship
from Rangoon.
The model villages have been built on the lands that
were confiscated from the Rohingya community. A
model village is usually built to house about 100 fami-
lies. Each family received at least three acres of land,
a pair of oxen, and a house. Besides, the ruling jun-
ta provided them some tractors to till lands to grow
paddy and gave them rickshaws for their survival.
But, the majority of the people of model villages have
no knowledge how to cultivate the land allocated to
them and instead rent it out to Rohingya farmers. In
some cases it is the same people from whom the land
was originally confiscated.
In some places, Rohingya people are forced to till
their land for growing paddy and work till the har-
vest. Besides, the Rohingya villagers have to provide
money for their ration and need also to provide gen-
erators to supply electricity to the new comers. Na-
saka also seize Rohingyas’ grazing pasture and dis-
tribute it to the Natala villagers for their cattle. Some
of them leased it back to Rohingya villagers.
Besides, schools, health centers were also built in
model villages by forced labor of the Rohingya peo-
ple.
At present, a total of 100 model villages have been
built in northern Arakan, among them 45 villages
were built in Maungdaw, 40 villages in Buthidaung
and 15 villages in Rathedaung townships.
Operation against Rohingya community, the succes-
sive military government launched at least 19 oper-
ations against the Rohingya community since 1948.
These operations were only implemented to drive
the Rohingya community from Arakan State in the
guise of checking people’s list in border areas amid
other allegations. The immigration authorities seized
old original NRC cards and photographs from the Ro-
hingya community in exchange of new ones, but they
did not return it. By doing this, the Rohingya com-
munity was bereft of NRC cards and photographs.

Earlier, they also seized photographs and NRC cards
while Rohingya people were traveling to Akyab,
Rangoon and other parts of Burma , by saying that
it was given by the immigration in native towns. Af-
ter seizing them, the authorities gave a receipt that
his document was seized temporarily. But, it will
never be returned to the original people. So, most of
the Rohingya people have been become NRC cards
less. However, the SPDC authorities were not satis-
fied by doing this, so over 300,000 Rohingya people
were forced to cross the Bangladesh border in 1978
because of the operation King Dragon (Nagamin) and
over 250,000 people also crossed the border in 1991-
92 given the persecution by the military junta.
The ruling military junta thought that the above per-
secutions were not sufficient to drive the Rohingya
community from Arakan State . So, taking the advice
of their collaborators from among the Rakhine com-
munity, they have been setting up Natala villages in
Arakan State since 1992 aiming to depopulate the
Rohingya community and harassing them through
Natala villagers. This technique has been very suc-
cessful for the ruling junta because of confiscation of
lands, forced labor, harassment to Rohingya villagers
by Natala villagers such as--- looting, robbery, steal-
ing property from the Rohingya community and even
killing.
Besides, the army, Nasaka (Burma’s border security
force), police, TPDC (Township Peace and Develop-
ment Council), DPDC (District Peace and Develop-
ment Council, Sarapa (Military Intelligence) along
with TOC (Tactical Operation Command) and MOC
(Military Operation Command) members have been
mounting persecution against the Rohingya commu-
nity in areas of religion, economy, education, health,
politics among others after grabbing power in 1989.
Some Rakhine people are acting as catalysts to ha-
rass the Rohingya community in collaboration with
SPDC authorities. A catalyst is a chemical compound
which is used to produce oxygen gas in laboratory.
If the KCLO3 is heated with fire after putting it into
a test tube, O2 gas will be produced. But it takes a
long time, and there is the risk of breaking of the test
tube if the heat is excessive. If the MnO2 is put to-
gether with KCLO3, and given heat, the O2 gas will
be produced in a short time. But, there is no change
in MnO2, but it will make it easy to produce O2 in
the laboratory. Similarly, some of the Rakhine people
(not all) misguided the SPDC authorities and advised
it how to drive the Rohingya community away from
Arakan. But, they stand still as neutral like a catalyst
between the Rohingya people and SPDC authorities
knowing nothing but secretly they (Rakhine) are clap-
ping their hands given the success of their plan.
I am surprised seeing the some Rakhine collaborators
or co-workers of SPDC in foreign countries crying for
democracy and human rights violations in Burma,
when they are actually doing what the SPDC does
against one of the communities (Rohingya) which has
www.rohingya.org
been suffering from acute human rights violations at
the hands of the junta.
Some of the Natala villagers’ harassments against the
Rohingya community are mentioned here below:
The Natala villagers frequently create problem for
Rohingya villagers.They steal cattle, vegetables from
Rohingya villagers and even rob Rohingya travelers.
They are encouraged by the concerned authorities
who give them all the facility and protection to be-
come goons in Northern Arakan .
Most of the Natala villagers in Maungdaw Township
, don’t like to stay their remote Natala villages, so
they transferred to Maungdaw-Aley Than Kyaw road
establishing tents by the road-side with the coopera-
tion of local Nasaka authorities. Afterward, they es-
tablished small market, bar shops, Video rooms and
even allowed gambling. They also opened prostitu-
tion to pursue local youths, hence, many local youths
have been destroying, said a local elder.
The State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) set
up a police out-post or army battalions close to Natala
villages to give them security. If the Natala villagers
commit any crime against the Rohingya villagers, the
police or Nasaka take no action against them. Natala
villagers never hesitate to commit any crime against
the Rohingy community. The authorities do not take
any action against the Natala villagers.
Natala villagers are doing whatever they want, en-
couraged by the concerned authorities who give them
all the facility and protection to become gangsters
in Northern Arakan . Earlier, all the Natala villages
were built on the orders of Prime Minister General
Khin Nyuint, who was sacked on 19 October 2004.
After the sacking of Prime Minister General Khin
Nyuint, the Rohingya community of northern Arakan
believed that the establishing of Natala village would
be stopped. But, the houses for the Natala village are
being reconstructed again by the army and it seems
“Men change, but not the change of rule”.
On January 1 to 3, 2008, a total of about 267 Natala vil-
lagers comprising 50 families were invited from Bur-
ma proper to Maungdaw Township by the authorities
to settle them in northern Arakan. For the settlement
of the Natala villagers, the authorities made houses
for them forcing Rohingya villagers to work in the
construction after confiscating land from Rohingya
farmers. The new comers were lured by the authori-
ties and forcefully brought to Arakan State .
On January 7, 2008, at around 10 am, about 100 Natala
villagers from Taungbro Sub-township of Maungdaw
Township went to Nasaka area No.3 headquarters
and demanded that they be provided rice as the rice
price has been skyrocketing in Maungdaw Township
and Major “Thu Rin Zaw”, the Commander of the
Nasaka camp promised to provide sufficient rice af-
ter January 15. But, the Natala villagers were not sat-
isfied with this commitment. So, 40 Natala villagers
went to the storehouse of Nasaka and looted rice. As
a result, Nasaka drove them out of the place and pro-
APRIL 13
News and Analysis of the Arakan Rohingya National Organisation, Arakan ( Burma)
vided 5 kg of rice to those who par-
ticipated in the strike. It seen that
the authorities do not take any ac-
tion against Natala villagers even
if they (Natala) attack government
property.
On January 10, 2008, at about 6
pm, Fatema Khatoon (50) belong-
ing to Long Dong village of Bawli
Bazar village tract of Maungdaw
Township was hit by three Natala
villagers with a pellet shot from
catapult where they targeted the
woman’s face, arm and chest. The
woman fell to the ground and be-
came unconscious. They had come
to the farm for stealing green chili
and egg plants, or brinjal and to-
matoes. Because of the presence
of Fatema Khatoon, the Natala vil-
lagers were not able to steal the
vegetables. No action was taken
against the Natala villagers.
On January 17, 2008, at about 3 pm,
a woman Natala villager took away
utensils in broad day light from a
woman Rohingya villager named
Nozoma Khatoon of Sain Tay Pyin
village of Loung Don village tract
of Maungdaw Township . But, the
police out-post did not take any ac-
tion against the culprit. The State
Peace and Development Council
(SPDC) established a police out-
post, Nasaka camp or army camp
near Natala villages to give them
security. If the Natala villagers
commit any crime against the Ro-
hingya villagers, the authorities
take no action against them.
On January 22, 2008, the body of Is-
saque (32) was found with wounds
inflicted in his abdomen by a drag-
ger near Aung Mangala Natala
village under the Nasaka Head-
quarters of Maungdaw Township .
Before Issaque was killed, he had
complained to the police officer
Hla Pey of Aung Mangla police
station that one of his goats was
taken away and killed by Natala
villagers in the morning of that
day. The police officer went to the
Natala village and warned the vil-
lagers. Issaque was killed by Nata-
la villagers because the police of-
ficer insulted them over the theft
of a goat. So, the Natala villagers
killed Issaque as revenge.
14 ARAKAN VOLUME 1 ISSUE 4
On Febuary 26, 2008, Molana Nu-
rulddin (53) from Taungbro village,
a religious teacher’s house was
intruded by two Natala villagers,
Myo Win and Htay Aung from near
Nurulddin village and snatched
his breed chickens without asking
any one. When Nurulddin object-
ed, they (Natala) started pelting
him with pellet shots from a cata-
pult. He was hit on the upper side
of his left eye. He went to the near
Nasaka camp to complain, but no
action was taken.
On May 5, 2008, at about 7pm, a
Natala villager of Loung Don vil-
lage tract in Maungdaw Township
stabbed a Rohingya villager on his
way home from the market .The
victim has been identified as Abul
Hussain (30), son of Nagu Meah
hailed from south Bawli Bazar vil-
lage. On that day, a Natala villager
from Loung Don Natala village of
Maungdaw Township with lethal
weapons stopped the victim while
he was on his way to home from the
market. The Natala villager tried
to steal Abul Hussain’s money, but
he resisted and ran away. But, the
Natala villager chased him and
stabbed him on the chest.
On June, 2008, over 1,000 acres
of farmlands were confiscated in
Maungdaw Township for Natala
villagers. The authorities seized
250 acres from Shwe Zarr village
tract, 160 acres from Aley Than
Kyaw village tract, 450 acres from
Bawli Bazar (Kyein Chaung) vil-
lage tract, 5 to 15 acres from Khari
Para, Pandaw Pyin (Nolbonia)
Para and other villages in Maung-
daw Township . The aim of the mil-
itary regime is to cut down the Ro-
hingya population where they are
in the majority by setting up Na-
tala villages and calling the Bud-
dhist community over from Burma
proper. It has also resulted in the
confiscation of lands and forced
labor in the Rohingya community.
December 20, 2008, at around 8
am, a clash occurred between Na-
tala villagers and Rohingyas after
five Natala youths burnt haystacks
of Rohingyas kept as cattle fod-
der. When stopped by Rohingya,
the Natala villagers went back to
their village and come back with
other Natala villagers to attack the
Rohingya villagers with spears,
knives and catapults. The Rohing-
ya villagers also threw stones at
Natala villagers and a clash broke
out. Some of Rohingya complained
and informed the authorities and
a section of policemen went to the
spot and arrested 50 Rohingya peo-
ple and brought them to the police
station and detained them. But,
the police took no action against
the Natala villagers.
On March 1, 2009, there was a big
incident between Natala villagers
and Rohingya villagers in Sanganet
village tract (Near Taung Bazar) of
Buthidaung Township . On that day,
two Natala women villagers went
to a vegetable farm of Rohingya
villager for stealing--- chilli, pea,
brinjal, tomatoes, pumpkin --- and
others while the owners were not
present. The vegetables farmers
were Rohingya, every year they
cultivate the land and grow many
kinds of vegetables. But, Natala
villagers were stealing the veg-
etables without any fear though
the owners told them not to steal
vegetables. Regarding the matter,
the owners complained to the con-
cerned authority many times to
take action against the Natala vil-
lagers, but they paid no heed.
On that day, in the evening, when
the two farm owners went to their
farms and saw two Natala women
villagers were stealing vegetables.
They took sticks and approached
to them. Seeing the owners, the
two women Natala villagers tried
to flee, but the two farm owners hit
them with sticks on their heads.
As a result, the two women from
the Natala villagers died on the
spot. They were buried in their
farm. After that, the farm owners
fled from the scene.
The two dead women were sisters.
When their father realized that his
two daughters were late coming
home, he went out of the house to
look for his daughters. The father
got a clue that two Rohingya villag-
ers were involved in killing of his
 www.rohingya.org

daughters. So, immediately, the father informed the nearby army camp, Nasaka camp and the police station
to help him in finding his missing daughters.
Being informed, army, police and Naska went to the Thanganet village and surrounded the village and se-
verely beat up all the villagers including men and women. Lastly they found out two men who were involved
in the murder. According to their statements, four other men were also involved in the murder. But, they were
not present at the village and are absconding. The two arrested culprits were detained by Nasaka and later
sent to Buthidaung jail. Four females of absconding culprits’ wives were brought to the police station. They
are still in detention.
The authorities arbitrarily arrested about 85 villagers including males and females, but they were released
after taking money. Villagers paid kyat 300,000 per head for their release. Besides, the Village Peace and
Development Council (VPDC) Chairman paid over 10 million kyat to the concerned authorities not to further
harass the villagers after collecting money from the villagers.
Regarding the event, all the vegetable farms owned by Rohingya people nearby Siripi Natala village were
seized by army, and the owners of the farm have been facing acute difficulties.
On March 25, 2009, two Rohingya traders were killed by Natala villagers, while another one went missing,
when they were crossing the Nga-kyidauk mountain pass from Maungdaw Township to Buthidaung Town-
ship . On that day, early in the morning, 15 Rohingya vegetable traders from Buthidaung Township went to
Maungdaw Town , to sell potatoes, turmeric, chilli, sesame oil-cake and other items after crossing the Nga-
kyidauk mountain pass. After selling their goods in Maungdaw Township , in the evening, they were return-
ing home after crossing the Nga-kyidauk mountain pass. However, at that time, some Natala villagers, with
lethal weapons, were waiting on the mountain pass to rob the vegetable traders. When the vegetable traders
reached the mountain pass, the Natala villagers suddenly attacked them killing two traders on the spot. One
trader is still missing. The other traders, however, managed to escape. According to a villager, the present
SPDC authorities are not satisfied with their persecution of the Rohingya community, so they encourage the
Natala villagers to oppress the Rohingya.
On April 10, 2009 a Rohingya youth (25), son of Jaffar, hailing from Ngakyin Tauk village was hit by Natala vil-
lagers with a catapult while he was going to a lake for a bath. He is in a critical condition, and being treated
in a health care centre of Taung Bazar. Natala villagers are going to the Rohingya villages after drinking wine
with lethal weapons such as--- knives, catapult and Meya Sue (Chingali).

On April 8, 2009, 120- family of Natala villagers or new comers was brought to Maungdaw town from Burma
proper. They were staying at Sikdar Para State High School of Maungdaw Town and were being fed by Ro-
hingya villagers living nearby after collecting ration from villagers. Later, the new comers were settled in
Maungdaw Township with 20 families in Taungbro village, 80 families in Nurula Para and 20 families in Sik-
dar Para.
Rohingya villagers are in panic-stricken state because of Natala villagers are being equipped with lethal
weapons and even guns while the knife, hoe, knife, axe etc---are being seized from the Rohingya villagers
recently. SPDC authorities encourage the Natala and Rakhine villagers physically and morally to create
problem for the Rohingya community. Such is the situation that more Natala villagers or new comers are be-
ing brought to northern Arakan.
The SPDC authorities accompanied by Natala villagers and some of Rakhines, co-workers of SPDC have
been discriminating against the Rohingya people in many angles. I appreciate the Rohingya community as
how they survive in their motherland within the huge burden of persecutions of SPDC authorities. As a hu-
man being, it is unbearable for the Rohingya community .In my viewpoint, Arakan is a big jail for Rohingya
community. If the persecution is going on in Arakan against the Rohingya community, Rohingya community
will be disappeared in Arakan forever in a short time. As a result, north Arakan will become a dangerous
place for the Rohingya community for existing.
It is time for the world community to save the Rohingya community from the SPDC’s viciousness.

OIC/CFM-36/2009/MM/DR/RES/FINAL; RESOLUTION No. 4/36-MM, ON THE

MUSLIM COMMUNITY IN MYANMAR

T
he Thirty-sixth Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers (For Enhancing Islamic Solidarity),
held in Damascus, Syrian Arab Republic from 28 Jumadal Awwal to 1 Jumadal Thani 1430H, (23-25
May, 2009);

Reaffirming Resolution No. 4/11-MM (IS) adopted by the 11th Islamic Summit Conference held in Dakar, Re-

APRIL 15
News and Analysis of the Arakan Rohingya National Organisation, Arakan ( Burma)
public of Senegal, in March 2008; and Resolution No. 4/35 adopted by the 35th Session of the Conference of Foreign
Ministers (CFM) held in Kampala, Republic of Uganda;

Having considered the Report of the Secretary-General on the Muslim Community in Myanmar (Document No. OIC/
CFM-36/2009/MM/SG.REPS);

1. Calls upon the Government of Myanmar to put an end the practices of displacement, expulsion, and exile of Arakan
Muslims and the continued attempts to eradicate their Islamic culture and identity, and urges government
authorities to respect the texts of international legitimacy on human rights.
2. Calls on Member States to continue their efforts in conjunction with those of the international community and the
United Nations in order to ensure the return of all Myanmar refugees displaced from their homes, particularly
the Muslims of the Arakan region of Myanmar.
3. Expresses concern over the continued deprivation of thousands of Rohingya Muslims citizenship right, and re-
quests the Secretary General and Member States that have close to the Government of Myanmar to intensify contacts
in order to gain recognition for Rohingya as one of its ethnic minorities and to stop all forms of violence, expulsion
and violation of human rights against them, and to remove all restrictions imposed on their freedom to move, learn
and to own property.
4. Commends the efforts of the Secretary General aimed at coordinating the work of the Rohingya Muslim organiza-
tions and uniting their ranks under a united coordination council and calls on him to continue these efforts to reclaim
their rights.

OIC/CFM-36/2009/MM/DR/RES/FINAL

5. Requests the Secretary-General to contact the Government of Myanmar for dispatching an OIC Mission to Myanmar
in order to study the conditions of Muslims there and to report thereon to the next CFM.
6. Supports the efforts of the United Nations Secretary-General and his Special Envoy on Myanmar, Mr. Ibrahim Gam-
bari; and invites the OIC Secretary-General to continue his cooperation with him and support his
efforts.
7. Calls on the Member States to continue to extend all possible forms of support and assistance to Myanmar Muslims
and to those among them living as refugees outside their homeland.
8. Requests the Secretary-General to follow up the implementation of this resolution and report thereon to the Thirty-
seventh session of the Council of Foreign Ministers.

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16 ARAKAN VOLUME 1 ISSUE 4